Average retail gasoline prices in Atlanta have fallen 4.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.82/gal yesterday.

This compares with the national average that has fallen 1.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.89/gal, according to gasoline price website AtlantaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Atlanta during the past week, prices yesterday were 11 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 10.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

The national average has increased 9.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 9.3 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"The only thing I remain sure of with gasoline prices is that things will remain quite volatile the next four to six weeks," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "Spot prices, a leading factor in retail gasoline prices, continues to swing wildly from region to region.

Last week we saw a refinery fire on the West Coast drive up spot prices nearly instantaneously, an event that could occur in virtually any area. It's these events, the unforeseeable reaction, that gives me reason to say that prices may continue to swing upward and downward," DeHaan said.